Who We Are
Let us unpack SparkFest and tell you a little more about the producing company, Amphibian Stage.
Amphibian Stage, founded in 2000
Amphibian Stage is a professional non-profit theatre in Fort Worth, Texas. Since our founding in 2000 we have produced 17 world premieres and developed more than 40 new plays. We hope to create rare & captivating theatrical experiences that energize a new generation of visionary artists and audiences.
Igniting the Spark
In 2021, our Founding Artistic Director, Kathleen Culebro, envisioned SparkFest: an arts festival designed to ignite creativity. More than just new plays, SparkFest celebrates diverse live entertainment and fosters a vibrant community where artists can connect, collaborate, and revel in the joy of shared artistic experiences.
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Land Acknowledgement
Amphibian Stage honors the Indigenous People of this nation who, for generations, were the stewards of our lands. We respectfully acknowledge that our theater resides on the ancestral home of the Comanche, Wichita and Kickapoo People.
New Play Development
Each year, Amphibian Stage receives hundreds of play submissions for SparkFest. A team of readers review each play and select a group of Finalists. From these finalists, 3-4 plays are chosen for development.
2024
Did You Eat?
Zoë Kim
You Are Cordially Invited To The End of the World!
Keiko Green
barren
Alex Lin
2023
The Ushers
Yussef El Guindi
Take My Milk for Gall
Leela Velautham
The Handless King
Harley Elias
Iron Henry
Roger Calderon
Feeding the Cat, Incorrectly, Several Times Over
Shyama Nithiananda
2022
The Amazing, Fabulous, & Spectacular Untruths of Juan Garcia
Kathleen Culebro
Haunted Play
Steven Dietz
Oleanna Part 2
Chris Cragin Day
Through a Glass Darkly
Erin Malone Turner
Elusive
Charles Jackson Jr.
2021
The Hollow
John Rapson
Naked
Jay Duffer
Close to Home
Sharifa Yasmin
Success Stories
The following plays have continued on to reach a world premiere production.
Did You Eat?
Zoë Kim
Chuang Stage, 2024
You Are Cordially Invited To The End of the World!
Keiko Green
South Coast Repertory, 2024
The Handless King
Harley Elias
Amphibian Stage, 2024
Feeding the Cat, Incorrectly, Several Times Over
Shyama Nithiananda
Echo Theatre, 2024
…Juan Garcia
Kathleen Culebro
Amphibian Stage, 2024
The Hollow
John Rapson
Amphibian Stage, 2024
Expanding the Spotlight
Starting in 2023, we honed the focus of SparkFest even further to uplift specific people groups. This allows artists of similar backgrounds to meet, network, and celebrate their artistry together—it also allows patrons to expand their understanding of these specific cultures.
2025
Indigenous Artists
2024
Asian American and Pacific Islander Artists
2023
Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian Artists
The Personal Impact of SparkFest
“Because of the pandemic, I didn’t have a graduation and our showcase for theatre professionals was canceled. I feel like this was my showcase and I’m so grateful.”
Lydia Jialu Li
SF'24 Acting Competition Audience Favorite
"Thank you so much for this unforgettable and beautiful experience. Performing at SparkFest has been a highlight for us. We are deeply grateful for making this dream come true, especially in such a beautiful space."
Guangmin Shen
Umami Playground, SF'24 Performer
“What you are doing here is truly unique. I admire it so much. I’ve never seen anything like it anywhere else. I’d like to talk to you about how you pulled this off.”
Ralph Peña
Obie Winner, Ma Yi Theatre
"Amphibian Stage can actually make change happen at the greater scale of the country's theater environment."
Rena Dutt
SF'24 New Play Director
“Other theatre companies treat us like a product. They don’t consider what we, the playwrights need. This is the first time I’ve felt fully supported and like I’ve been given all of the tools to succeed.”
Keiko Green
SF'25 New Play Playwright
"I like SparkFest being focused on a specific group; it draws together a lot of art that you wouldn't be able to see without having to travel a lot of different places."
Doug Gault
Board Member
On the Agenda
Our two week festival covers a wide range of performances and events; pick your favorites or grab a SparkPass to see it all!
Sponsor
SparkFest is made possible by the generosity of foundations, grants, and community partnerships.
Want to chat?
If you have a question or want to connect about sponsorships, let's chat!
FAQs
Some common questions we get, here's the answers.